REASONS TO BUY
Adept at cleaning
Interactive app
Intuitive to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud
Pricey
Not gentle
Oral-B Genius X Review
Offering strong cleaning ability and a convenient app, this device mostly hits the mark as long as you don't have sensitive gums
Credit: Oral-B
By Genaveve Bradshaw ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ December 16, 2023
Contributions From: Ryan White
RELATED: The Best Toothbrushes of 2025
Our Verdict
The Oral-B Genius X excelled in efficiency and thoroughness during cleaning, and the companion app proved easy to pair with. It was also intuitive to use thanks to the ability to switch between the six modes with a dedicated button. However, we didn't find it to be very gentle, and our testers with sensitive mouths were not impressed. Additionally, the brush itself was quite loud. If these factors are deal-breakers, you may want to consider another top-ranked electric toothbrush.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Cleaning performance is the top priority for any electric toothbrush, and the Oral-B Genius X does it well, even if it is a little harsh on the gums. Our testers subjected this device to a gauntlet of different tests to ensure it meets your expectations.
In today's world, it seems everything comes with an app, and in the case of this model, it succeeds.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Cleaning
App connectivity allowed us to see how well we brushed each quadrant.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Starting out strong, the Oral-B Genius X scored very well here, with the testers reporting a very smooth and clean feeling and managing to remove all the visible plaque. With a great performance, it was difficult to fault it. It also excelled with our dental model, effectively cleaning the artificial teeth with no leftover debris.
No visible plaque, which is a win for this device.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Comfort
This model is compatible with a series of different brush heads.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Oral-B Genius X handle is compatible with seven different types of Oral-B brush heads: Gentle Clean, CrossAction, FlossAction, 3D White, Sensitive, Deep Sweep, and Dual Clean. This versatility is great if you're transitioning from a different model and already have compatible brush heads. However, during our evaluation, we found that this specific device, when paired with the provided brush head, tends to be somewhat aggressive on the gums. While it does provide a sensitive mode, we believe it could be gentler overall. This device features a pressure sensor, making it ideal for those with a heavy hand, as it can detect excessive pressure during brushing. As a part of this, the Smart Ring around the handle lights up red to alert you; however, in practice, we found it to be inconsistent. We also noted that the mechanical sound was disruptive, measuring a rather loud 82 decibels from just 3 inches away.
The Smart Ring lights up red if you're brushing too hard. Most of the time.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Use
The brushes mode is indicated by a clearly lit-up symbol and can be changed by the secondary button.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
With the Oral-B Genius X, you have access to six modes: Daily Clean, Pro Clean, Sensitive, 3D White, Gum Care, and Tongue Clean. Switching between these modes is easy with a secondary button, and icons illuminate to signify the current mode in use. Unfortunately, you can't switch modes when the power is off, but you can see which mode it's in by pressing the same secondary button. This model is compatible with the Oral-B app, providing valuable information to help you optimize your brushing sessions. The app provides real-time feedback on how well you're brushing each quadrant.
App connectivity is a bonus if that's your thing. Here, you can view how well you cleaned each quadrant of your mouth.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
While cleaning the brush isn't overly difficult, it requires some effort as the rubberized sections on the handle can accumulate gunk. Additionally, during testing, we noticed that the two holes in the brush head can be prone to leaking while in use. It's not the best performance for Oral-B, but it's not abysmal either.
Cleaning the Oral-B isn't too much of a challenge thanks to its water resistance.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Battery Life
The battery life is clearly indicated by three bars on the bottom of the handle.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We managed to squeeze 16 days of battery life out of the Oral-B Genius X, which is not leading the pack by any means. It should prove somewhat sufficient for a variety of users, but if you're looking for the most power-efficient device, this is not it. Thankfully, it's super easy to see how much juice you have left, indicated by three bars that illuminate the current battery level. Once you get down to the red, the power of the brush is reduced.
The Genius X charges by a docking station, slim enough to fit on just about any counter.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Oral-B Genius X?
Considering its overall stellar cleaning performance, endorsing this model would be easy. However, it is marred by several drawbacks in nearly every other test, preventing us from wholeheartedly recommending it, especially given its price. This is not to say it's a bad device, but at this cost and compared to the top performers, it doesn't quite measure up.
What Other Electric Toothbrushes Should You Consider?
The Oral-B iO Series 9 is a bit pricier but surpasses it in nearly every aspect. The Series 9 pairs to the Oral-B app for live feedback as you brush. If you're not seeking a significant investment, the Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 5100 is a more cost-effective option that performs exceptionally across the board.
—Genaveve Bradshaw and Ryan White
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